ONE DISH, ONE SPOON
One Dish, One Spoon is an agreement among First Nations communities to share hunting territory between two or more nations. The concept signifies that individuals must limit the game they take to ensure enough remains for others and for the continued viability of the hunting grounds. The “dish” represents the shared land, while the “spoon” symbolizes individuals using the land’s resources cooperatively. This principle was also invoked in past treaties to avoid conflict and promote peaceful coexistence.
Recently, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Kawehno:ke District Chief Vince Thompson brought new life to this old concept by having a beautiful bowl and spoon created to represent One Dish, One Spoon. Chief Thompson is one of the representatives of the MCA at the Iroquois Caucus (IC). He is also involved in the Harvest Working Group, which discusses the hunting rights of the involved communities in the IC. He envisioned this creation as a tangible expression of the One Dish, One Spoon concept. In the photo, Chief Thompson is seen with MCA Conservation Officer Taylor Mitchell’s personal wampum belt. Taylor, who is part of the Environment program, also participates in the committee meetings.
The journey to create this bowl was serendipitous. Chief Thompson reached out to various individuals to find someone capable of making the bowl but was met with little success. One day, perchance, Chief Thompson decided to stop at a small craft fair. During this visit, he purchased wooden spoons from a vendor and casually mentioned his intention of having a wooden bowl made. The vendor provided the name and contact number of a Mr. D.R. Guynup from Plattsburgh, NY. Although the initial contact number was out of service, fate intervened, and Mr. Guynup eventually called Chief Thompson, expressing his willingness to craft the bowl. Understanding the cultural significance, Mr. Guynup asked only for a firm handshake in exchange of the bowl, a request that Chief Thompson gratefully obliged.
The talented crew from Two House Designs completed the wood-burning on the bowl, which features replicas of the original signatures from various nations from the 18th century, One Dish, One Spoon treaty agreement. The bowl also has room on it to welcome future additions if more nations want to join in on the concept. The bowl’s intricate design and craftsmanship impressed both Chief Thompson and Taylor Mitchell, who take great pride in this symbol of unity and sustainability.
Chief Thompson and Taylor Mitchell are now considering where to keep the bowl and spoon. However, they are determined to bring this beautiful creation to many future Iroquois Caucus meetings, ensuring that all participants can see and be reminded of the importance of the One Dish, One Spoon principle. This bowl serves not only as a reminder of past agreements, but also as an expression of the continued cooperation and environmental stewardship among First Nation communities.
